Sarah felt her body tremor at the memories. Rage, the only word she could describe her emotions with yet at the same time it wasn't a strong enough meaning. She may have vented silently for many more moments if the warmth at her side didn't shift. She tensed as she took in Jareth, he, once again laying in her bed. Only this time with her beside him, she froze. She was angry, but not at him, the memories had been her own and it had been quite plain he hadn't known what was going on. She trembled in remembered fear; she knew what was going to have happened next. The fire, her room had once contained faulty wiring. She had nearly died of smoke inhalation. The bars on her window, the ones that had been meant to keep her in at night had nearly been the end of her.
"Sarah." His voice was a whisper, and she felt the warm strong arms surround her. And damn her she couldn't bring herself to wrench away. At the moment comfort was comfort. He wasn't pulling her out of the house. He wasn't threatening her, he wasn't doing anything more than holding her, and at the moment that was what she needed the most.
He didn't know how to describe the elation he felt when she allowed him to hold her. No fighting, not cursing, just her in his arms. It was something he could find himself growing used to. Stroking her hair he let the silence remain, her friends were prodding at his shield, but he could neither see nor hear them, only feel the intrusion upon his magic.
He would ignore it, they had left her and now she was alone with him, and he was not going to frighten her this time. He had learned so much of her. He had been guessing that she expected betrayal, but never why. First her mother, then her father, and the salt to the wounds, her stepmother. It was a wonder at all that she had run through the Labyrinth for the babe at all. "Sarah." He murmured softly. "Why do you stay, if all you get is pain?" He had thought the question of her giving trust was intimate to ask. She didn't answer in words, but he felt her shrug her shoulders. Now more than ever he wanted to bring her back to his home. Not because she had wounded his ego, he couldn't have cared less over that anymore. But to bring her away from her pain, and keep her safe. She had such a tender heart, but hid it behind her wall of iron. She brought a new look to the term 'iron maiden.'
"Why do you stay and rule your Goblins?" It was a question not meant to have an answer, but he had one. He stayed, because of responsibility, and in a small sense, pride. Not many Fae could survive his subjects. Not that they ever went of and hunted Fae or humans, but they were rowdy and destructive. But he did it, and under his rein the Kingdom had grown stronger, and more beautiful if you knew where to look.
So she stayed, proud that she could survive such troubles. Unknowing in what other choices she had, and too stubborn to give up. Sarah stayed for the same reasons he ruled his kingdom. It was all the world to her, she wanted a family, and this was all she had. And she seemed to be trying to make it work whether it was possible or not. "Your staying here will kill you. Your spirit -."
"I don't care." Her voice was muffled, her face against his chest. "If I haven't fallen yet I never will. It takes a lot to kill a Williams. Granny used to say that." Her tone was fond.
"And where is your 'Granny' now?"
"Dead, she had a terrible disease that made you forget everything, even your own name. It eventually killed her. It was a long time ago, before my world went to crap." He had nothing to say. He didn't understand her. It seemed that the pain of life kept her going. "You still need sleep Sarah."
"Your point? You're going to force me back to sleep if I refuse." Her voice was slightly muffled due to the fact that her face was nuzzled into his chest.
"I would make it so that you don't dream."
"And what of annoying Kings?'
"I'll leave your sleep to be your own." She looked to him and seemed to be searching for something.
"You're not going to give me a choice in this are you?" He shook his head and with a pointed grin he produced an enchanted peach. She frowned at the sight of the fruit and did not open her mouth when he pressed in to her lips.
"Don't fight me Sarah, I will force this down your throat if you make me." She sent a chilling glare but parted her lips to take a bite. One so small that the magic would not be able to take affect. Still she defied him.
So having given her ample warning he felt no qualms when he mounted her and ran his hand up and under her shirt. And just as she made to protest her pushed the same peach into her open mouth. "I warned you." He teased, grinning devilishly at her. She still hadn't a second bite. "And still you refuse?" her eyes glared murder at him and tried to shake her head, but he held the peach firm to her mouth . Still amused by her minor resistance he ground his hips to hers; her squeal of shock was his reward. Followed by what he assumed was muffled curses. "Take a bite and this game ends. Keep waiting…" He let the sentence trail off and the hand under her shirt tickled her ribs. She began to squirm under his attention and it wasn't until he began nuzzling her throat that she finally took a bite. The moment she swallowed he rolled over, taking her with him and ending with her lying on his chest. Her eyes were already clouding with sleep as she fell under the affects of his enchanted peach.
"Cheater."
"I warned you. You are to stay in this bed for a full day."
"And if I don't?" She whispered, head falling onto his chest as if it were her pillow.
"I'll have you bound to it, you may leave only for the lavatory and nothing else. Understood?"
"Whatever." She sighed, breath brushing against his throat. He gave a soft smile at her consent. A minor battle for sure, and had she been awake at all she would have fought tooth and nail.
"Stubborn mortal." He murmured affectionately, rolling her back onto the mattress he gazed at her sleeping features. He would have her, she would love him, and he her. Pressing his lips to hers in a gently kiss he moved off the bed. Pulling a cover over her figure he returned to his realm. The magical barrier barring her friends vanishing as he did.
He was generous enough to leave a note for them to inform them that she would not awaked for quite some hours.
Terrible ending I know. Oh well what do you think? The softer side of Jareth. He needs his hard edges again. Ah well maybe I'll bring the parents back next chapter. Anyway. HERE IT IS.
~BUM~